Aarati Tamang is from Kavre and is currently residing in New road. She is an enthusiastic and hardworking person studying in Grade 11, pursuing Computer Engineering in Saraswati Niketan Secondary school. Despite facing many challenges, she enjoys tackling them. She is a friendly and helpful person with a good heart. Her hobbies include learning new things, reading books, spending time with friends, and listening to music.

Anisha Pokhrel is originally from Gulmi but currently residing in Kathmandu. Anisha is a Grade 11 student studying Computer Engineering in Saraswati Niketan Secondary School. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, listening to music, reading stories and paper crafting. Passionate about technology, her future goal is to work in the IT sector and build a successful career in IT companies.

Meet Binita Tamang, currently residing in Maitidevi and pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies (BBS 3rd year) at Dillibazar Kanya Multiple Campus. Binita has a strong interest in arts and music, and she loves exploring new things. With a growing passion for technology, she aspires to become a software programmer and build a successful career in the field.

Meet Bipana Tamang, a bright and ambitious student from Lamjung district. She is currently pursuing her Plus Two in Science with a major in Computer Science. She has a deep love for music and finds joy in exploring new places. She aspires to become an engineer hoping to use her knowledge and skills to create a positive impact in her community and contribute meaningfully to society.

Dawa Dolma Gurung from Dolpo currently lives in Bouddha, Kathmandu. She is exhilarated to share a little insight about herself - she grew up in a small village called Dho Tarap which is nestled in the heart of Dolpo at an elevation of approximately 4,150m.

She completed her primary schooling at Chrystal Mountain School in her village and finished her secondary schooling at TCV Suja in India with sponsorship. After high school, she returned to Nepal and volunteered as a primary English and Tibetan teacher in her village for over a year.

Currently, she is an Arts student at Bajra International College and also working as an accountant for a Tibetan Cargo Company. With basic computer skills and knowledge, she is eager to be a part of TEJ Fellowship to further sharpen her computer skills and expand her knowledge.

Originally from Kavre, Gita Tamang is currently living in Lazimpat. She has completed her Plus Two in Management from Shivapuri Higher Secondary School. Gita enjoys listening to music, travelling, exploring new things, and occasionally dancing. Her goal is to achieve a respectable position where she can grow professionally, build a successful career, and contribute meaningfully to the organization she becomes a part of.

Grishma Surkheti is a first-semester bachelor's student at Nepalaya College, currently residing in Matatirtha, Chandragiri. She enjoys reading books and listening to music in her free time.

Hima Tamang, originally from Bhumlu-8, Kavrepalanchok, now resides in Lazimpat, Kathmandu. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and diligently working on her thesis.

She has a deep love for learning new things, regardless of the subject. Beyond academics, she enjoys hiking and trekking and she is passionate about advocating for climate change and girls' education.

Her ultimate goal is to make a positive impact on society and give back to the community. A fun fact about her is that she tends to panic before trying anything new, but she always finds a way to get things done!

From Jagaranathpur, Parsa, meet Mamita Giri. She is currently living in New Baneshwor Kathmandu and pursuing her studies in Grade 12, in V.S Niketan College in Management faculty. She is a very friendly, helpful, enthusiastic person. Talking about her interests, she likes to teach others what she has learned and likes to travel to new places with her friends and communicate with new people. Besides that, she likes reading, writing poems and social works.

Meet Priti Nepali, a fifth-semester BSc CSIT student at Patan Multiple College, focused on learning programming and improving her problem-solving skills. She aspires to become a full-stack developer and create dynamic web applications. Beyond coding, she enjoys creating videos, watching good films and spending time in nature.

Rabeena Chalise is currently studying in Grade 12 at V.S. Niketan College in Management faculty. She is from Sindhupalchok district. From a young age, she has been drawn to the field of social work. She is deeply committed to do something meaningful for the people of her society and country. She wants to help the poor and needy as much as she can. Helping others makes her happy and she hopes to keep this happiness in her life permanently. By becoming a social worker, She wants to make positive change in society and contribute to the betterment of society.

Her hobbies are playing games, reading stories and novels, dancing, travelling, volunteering, writing, etc.

From Kathmandu, Rijika Shahi is pursuing her studies in Computer Engineering in Saraswati Niketan Secondary School. Her academic journey in this field has been exciting, as she is learning about various aspects of technology, programming and problem-solving. Apart from her studies, she loves crocheting in her free time while listening to music — a hobby that helps her relax and stay motivated. She loves learning new crochet techniques by watching videos on different platforms. Looking ahead, her goal is to work in the IT sector, where she can apply her knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems. Her ultimate goal is to contribute to the tech industry while continuously learning and growing in this ever-evolving field.

Roshni Bhandari is from Teku, Kathmandu. Currently she is pursuing her studies in the field of Computer Engineering at Saraswati Niketan Secondary School. She has always had a strong interest in software engineering, with a particular enthusiasm for coding and designing web pages. She likes listening to music, crocheting, and dancing during her free time. Her future goal is to be a skilled software engineer. She believes that with hard work and perseverance she can achieve her dream into reality.

Sabina Saru Magar is a passionate and enthusiastic individual from Kohalpur, Banke. She recently completed her Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from Everest Engineering College, Sanepa, Lalitpur.

With a strong curiosity for learning, Sabina is always eager to explore new ideas and technologies. She is driven by a desire to gain new experiences, share knowledge with younger ones and continuously enhance her programming skills. She loves coding and enjoys solving new challenges, which is why she wants to become a software engineer. She is inspired by how web and mobile applications can make life easier and help people work faster.

She believes that a career in software engineering will allow her to innovate and continuously improve her skills while contributing to meaningful technological advancements.

In her free time, she enjoys reading storybooks, dancing, watching movies, visiting new places, connecting with new people, and hearing about their life experiences.

Sabita Giri is from Dang, Tulsipur. Currently, she resides in Baneshwor. She is pursuing her Plus Two in Management with Business Math. She enjoys reading books, printing, traveling, singing, and listening to music.

Sadikshya Arjel is from Nawalparasi, Dumkibas and is currently residing in Kalanki, Kathmandu. She is pursuing her studies in Grade 11. She enjoys doing things that align with her heart and is always striving to improve herself, though she believes no one is perfect. She has a strong interest in computer engineering, particularly in programming and coding. Additionally, she likes to engage in extra activities, constantly seeking opportunities to learn and grow.

Sajita Khadka is from Dolakha and is currently living in Teku, Kathmandu. She is a hardworking student studying in Grade 11 at Saraswati Niketan Secondary school, where she is pursuing Computer Engineering. She likes to interact with others and help people. In her free time, she enjoys reading books and listening to music.

Shreejana Magar, originally from Dhading, now residing in Lakhenani. She has completed her SEE and is currently in Grade 11, pursuing a Computer Engineering course at Saraswati Niketan Madhyamik Vidhyalaya, Teku. Shreejana is known for her strong work ethic, self-motivation, and multitasking abilities. Her hobbies are reading books, travelling to various places, listening to music, and exploring new ideas and skills. She has a deep interest in technology and is always looking for opportunities to learn more. Her ambition is to become a software programmer.

Sushma Shrestha from Dhading currently resides in Kathmandu, and is a Grade 11 student studying Computer Engineering in Saraswati Niketan Secondary School. She loves singing, making art, going for walks, reading novels, watching online shows and videos, and playing music. In addition she knows different musical instruments of her culture.

She is obsessed with teaching as she is also a tutor for up to grade 10. Talking about her career plans, she wants to be a full-stack programmer and wants to work in the field of teaching too. She loves to learn new ideas, concepts, and tactics of programming languages. Her strength is - she is a fast learner with the ability of calmness and time management so it contributes to her career building process. She has almost learnt three programming languages completely till now and is working on her fourth one at TEJ fellowship's pre bootcamp.

She believes in herself, and that she will reach her goal one day with the hard work. A fun fact about her is that she is always busy with something. Though she is going to have some free time, she will definitely make some plans.

Tulsi Thapa Magar is a motivated student from Kalimati. She is currently studying in Grade 11 in Saraswati Niketan Secondary school. She has been studying Computer Engineering since Grade 9, and it has become an increasingly interesting and beneficial learning experience for her.

Tulsi’s hobbies include reading, writing, listening to music, and coding. She also enjoys playing games in her free time. Her ambition is to be a software engineer. She is interested in creating websites and developing her own web pages. She likes to learn skills and techniques through video tutorials and various other online resources.

Fun fact about her is that she has a funny and talkative nature. She likes to talk about things which are unknown and loves learning from the experiences shared by her elders.

Benju Lwagun is a writer at Global Voices. In her articles, she focuses on the issues of Migrant Workers, Women's Rights, and Caste Based Discriminations of Nepal. She has a master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism and has more than 6 years of work experience in the Development Communications and Public Relations Sector in Nepal and Myanmar. She is currently based in Amman, Jordan. In her free time, Benju likes to sing, listen to music and read books.

Topraj Gurung is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. He first started coding in 1999 and has since then worked at Google, Facebook and startups in various capacities. He got his PhD in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA. In his free time, he loves following NBA basketball.

Pawan Benjamin is a professional musician and a technology educator.

Rushil Shakya is a technology educator who is passionate about making the sector more inclusive. He has worked in leadership capacities in large fortune 500 company as well as in technology startup. He has also volunteered his time and expertise for a number of social justice organizations in Nepal and the United States.

Aditi Mody is currently on the Board of Trustee at the University of Chicago Trust ( since February 2018).

Aditi was the Former Executive Director at the University of Chicago Trust (2016- 2021) where she provided strategic and administrative leadership in promoting research, education, and engagement of the University in multi sector policy and program implementation within the region.

She was also the Former Executive Director of the UChicago Center in India Private Limited (2016-2020) where she worked closely with the University of Chicago’s academic and administrative leaders, to support University of Chicago initiatives, develop and expand academic collaborations and foster collaborative programming and policy engagement in India and South Asia.

Aditi also served as Country Director for India with the US-India Business Council (USIBC) at the US Chamber of Commerce. At USIBC, Aditi was responsible for establishing the India office of the Council and growing the commercial and strategic partnership between the countries by leading charge on bilateral policy advocacy issues for USIBC’s diverse membership with a variety of stakeholders across a range of sectors.

She served on Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Cargill Global Scholars Selection Committee (April 2021) and was on the National Screening Committee for the Fulbright-Nehru CII Fellowship for Leadership Management (2010-2011).

Aditi currently serves on the Women Leadership Board at the Women and Public

Policy Program at the Harvard Kennedy School as well as the Board of Trustees at Habiart Foundation (which promotes contemporary Indian Art).

She holds a M.A. in International Relations from the University of Chicago (USA) and Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Bristol University (UK).

Amy Paul is a communication and fundraising professional who has helped advance immigrant justice, community-driven public safety, and workers’ rights. She has worked for nonprofits including Possible Health and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. She has also served as a board member for Adhikaar for Human Rights. Amy holds a Master’s in International Affairs from the New School and an undergraduate degree in public policy from The University of Chicago. She lives in Jackson Heights, Queens.

Barsha is a product designer based in New York City. She graduated from Parsons School of Design with an MFA in Design and Technology and currently is working as a UX/UI designer and Front-End Developer at a nonprofit organization. She is also an avid guitarist and a movie critique.

Brittin is a development professional with extensive experience in Nepal. She holds a master's degree in international public policy from Johns Hopkins University.

Mamta Gurung Nyangmi has over 20 years of experience in international and community development. She has worked at the UN, at numerous international and national NGOs as well as the private sector. She provides strategic, programmatic, and organizational management to global and grassroots organizations in the US, South Asia, and South East Asia. With a focus on intersections of social protection, education, gender, ethnic and racial justice, Mamta understands that sustainable development occurs when systems are set up to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion of the marginalized and the vulnerable.

Born to a pastoral family in rural Nepal, Mamta has lived and worked in some of the most vibrant cities in the world including Kathmandu, Delhi and New York and uses these cross-cultural experiences to navigate complex situations and advocate for representation. She has a Masters in International Development from Cornell University, Bachelors in International Development from the City University of New York and, a BA Honors in English Literature from Delhi University. She is fluent in Nepali, Hindi, English and in her native tongue Manangi, is conversational in Tibetan and speaks basic Spanish.

Matti is a senior lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Helsinki, specializing in web development and cloud-based software engineering. A pioneer in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), he launched the Helsinki Programming MOOC in 2012. In 2018, he collaborated with several industry partners to initiate the Full Stack Open course series, which focuses on cutting-edge technologies. His courses have attracted thousands of participants worldwide. Matti is a strong advocate for open-access learning, releasing all his teaching materials under open licenses.

In addition to his teaching role, Matti is an active software developer. Together with his team, TOSKA, he builds systems used by several universities in Finland. He has also worked as a software developer at Nokia and the startup AppGyver, which was later acquired by SAP.

In his free time, Matti enjoys rock climbing and trekking in the Alps and occasionally in the Himalayas.

Navaraj is a development professional with over twenty-five years of leadership experience in Asia and Africa. Currently, he is a consultant for NGO management, strategy, and leadership, and he coaches and mentors senior managers. He is interested in organizational development, operational management, organizational change and leadership mentoring.

Prarthana (she/her) is a first-generation Nepali-American, born and raised in the U.S., and currently serves as the Director of Campaigns & Communications at Adhikaar, a community and worker center that organizes the Nepali-speaking immigrant and refugee community. Prarthana brings to TEJ a decade of experience in building campaigns and bridging communications for social justice movements spanning from worker rights, immigration, environmental justice, police accountability, and public health. She currently resides in Queens, New York City.

Ramesh Singh is currently a freelance consultant and volunteer living in and working from Asia (Bangkok – Kathmandu).

Strategy review, evaluation and development, public policy advocacy, NGO design, governance and architecture, integrity and accountability systems, strategic leadership teaching, training and mentoring are his areas of interest, learning and expertise.

Ramesh Singh has worked in leadership roles at country, regional and global levels in development, human rights and environmental international organizations. He has lived in and worked from South and Southeast Asia; West, East and Southern Africa; North America; and Western Europe. He has also served in governance roles of various international organisations.

Ramesh was educated as an agronomist/seed technologist. He has been a visiting fellow at Institute of Development Studies UK; Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs US and, Harvard Kennedy School US.

He has done recent consultancy and pro-bono work at Amnesty International, Africans Rising Movement, Greenpeace India, ActionAid, WaterAid, International Development Economist Associates and Women or Women International.

Todd Rodgers is the CTO at Haven Technologies, a new SaaS company that leverages an industry leading technology platform to help carriers deliver new products and digitally transform their operations.

Prior to launching Haven Technologies, Todd was CTO at Haven Life, a life insurance startup that takes a customer-centric, digital approach to improving the life insurance buying experience. In this role, Todd oversaw development teams to ensure delivery of a next generation customer experience in the life insurance industry.

Todd has extensive leadership experience in defining and delivering large-scale strategic technology platforms in financial companies. Prior to joining Haven Life, he was at Citi Private Bank where he managed global development teams that worked to address complex financial needs of high-value clients.